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6 INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA APRIL 2012
Government
Minister outlines government spending and reform
by Anthony Albanese
I
nfrastructure investment lies at the
heart of our economic growth as
a nation. That is why the federal
government is investing $37 billion
in our roads, rail and ports. This level of
investment is backed by wide-ranging
regulator y reform.
We have doubled the roads budget to
around $28 billion. The duplication of the
Hume Highway is nearing completion.
Right now, there are 1600 workers on six
major stretches of the Pacific Highway.
Finally, 23 years after Australia’s worst
ever road accident at Clybucca when two
coaches collided, killing 35 people and
injuring 41 others, the dangerous section
of single lane highway will be duplicated.
It is a similar story for rail, where we
have increased investment tenfold. Our
investment is helping to rebuild more than
one-third of the rail network (3771km of
existing track) and a further 235km of
new track.
While public transport is usually the
responsibility of the states, we have also
committed $7.3 billion to modernise and
extend passenger rail in our major cities.
With three out of every four Australians
living in cities, the government believes
affordable, reliable and frequent public
transport is key to making them better
places to live.
Regional Australia is also benefitting
from the government’s investment in
national transport infrastructure. Almost
two-thirds – over $22 billion – of the Na-
tion Building Program is earmarked for
projects in rural and regional areas. In
addition, almost $6 billion of proceeds
raised through the new Mineral Resources
Rent Tax will be used to address urgent
infrastructure needs in regional Austra-
lia, particularly in areas that support the
mining boom. This will boost our export
capacity and develop regional economies.
The federal government is also mak-
ing changes to the way we invest in, build
and regulate our infrastructure. We have
established the independent advisory
body Infrastructure Australia, which has
conducted an audit of the nation’s existing
infrastructure. Based on that audit, Infra-
structure Australia has now established a
National Priority List to guide public and
private investment.
Infrastructure Australia has also com-
missioned a report into barriers to compe-
tition and procurement in public private
partnerships and has worked with the
private sector to develop national guide-
lines. These provide a framework to make
it easier for the private sector to partner
with governments on new infrastructure
projects. This will lead to lower bid costs
and fewer time delays. It will also create a
more competitive market.
Infrastructure Australia has also helped
with important microeconomic reforms
such as the National Port Strategy and
ongoing work to finalise the National
Freight Strategy. Both strategies are blue-
prints for better long-term planning and
investment in the nation’s port, road and
rail infrastructure.
As for transport, the government is
introducing one new set of national laws
covering heavy vehicles, maritime safety
and rail safety from 1 January 2013. This
change, agreed to by COAG, does away
with 24 separate state, territory and com-
monwealth regulators. This reform will
make life simpler for drivers and operators
and boost national income.
The government’s infrastructure agen-
da is well under way. Of the more than 190
road projects we’ve commissioned, 47 are
completed with a further 134 under con-
struction. Of the 42 major rail projects, 21
are completed with 21 under way.
Improved signalling, extended crossing
loops and the removal of severe curves
along the rail freight line between Bris-
bane and Melbourne are helping shave
11 hours off the journey. This is making
rail an attractive alternative for freight
carriers such as Woolworths, which are
considering switching to rail to carry
the 2000t of goods they send north each
week from Melbourne to Brisbane and
the smaller quantity that returns the other
way. Woolworths alone has 160 B-double
trucks on the Melbourne-Brisbane route.
Meanwhile, the National Broadband
Network is continuing to roll-out across
the nation, giving Australians everywhere
rapid access to the digital economy.
Anthony Albanese is the federal
infrastructure and transport minister.
Anthony Albanese at Sydney Airport ... “The federal government is investing $37 billion in our roads, rail and ports.”
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